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“Will you at least press the button for them before you get your quiver out and your trigger finger ready?”

The last thing Aphrodite saw as the elevator doors closed in front of her were the smug faces of Abby and Sabine as they leaned in to kiss each other.

“Fucking cupids.” She blew out a breath and looked up into the indulgent expression of Athena, who was still holding her tightly in those sculpted arms, and suddenly the aforementionedfucking cupids, the convention, and Zeus himself seemed a million miles away.

6

WHERE JEALOUSY REARS ITS NOT-SO-UGLY HEAD (PAR FOR THE COURSE)

Her problems were multiplying.

Her ankle was swelling quickly.

Her shoe was a dead loss.

And per every romance novel ever written, her lacy thong—because while she was a cliché, she was a very fashionable cliché—was uncomfortably wet.

She was uncomfortably wet herself.

Athena, her gentle hands, her bedroom eyes, and her strong, sinewy arms were making her tremble with desire.

Zeus, could she be more predictable? More purple prose-y?

Be that as it may, as Athena easily walked to the suite Aphrodite had instructed her to march towards, she couldn’t help but revel in how deeply affected she was. By the proximity, by the sheer, effortless strength, by the maddening scent that was always present when she came close enough.

How long had it been since she’d felt this rush of heat, this giddy excitement? And could she trust herself to enjoy it? To allow it to happen? Her heart and some other parts of her body were screaming for her to let go, but her mind was paralyzed by old fear. Zeus, gods, the universe itself. Being used, being toldwhat to do, never being allowed free will. Was this a setup? How were the Olympians involved? And how were the cupids?

As Athena put her down on the white leather couch in her luxurious penthouse, she sighed. No, the Goddess of Love very rarely made her own choices. Epochs passed and still nothing much changed.

“Thank you.”

The considerate eyes looked at her without expectation as Athena knelt at her feet again. Maybe it was that utterly guileless expression that made Aphrodite extend her hand and mirror Athena’s earlier gesture by cupping her chin. The abovementioned consideration left the features she had been admiring, replaced with blatant desire and obvious pleasure. Athena made a sound that was almost a purr and leaned into the touch, and Aphrodite smiled at the decidedly cat-like behavior.

“This is such a sexy look on you.”

Athena’s lips twitched slightly, and Aphrodite couldn’t help but trace the lower one with her thumb. Silky soft and oh so hot. Scorching. A pink tongue reached out and gave the digit a quick lick, and she gasped at the unexpected images the gesture evoked in her. That very tongue licking her, her body tangled in dark satin sheets, Athena holding her hips down, pleasuring her. So sure of herself, of her power, of her skill. Driving her high, higher, to the very peak, then pushing her over and catching her before starting all over again.

She swallowed quickly, trying to shake the vision away. As she refocused her attention on the task at hand, Athena’s eyes flew open, and the intelligent gaze seemed to penetrate her thoughts, reading them with ease.

“You like me on my knees in front of you?”

The lips moved under her thumb, sending tendrils of warmth up Aphrodite’s arm.

“I can’t deny that it is an attractive image.”

“Are you playing games with me, Dite?”

And just like that, cold reason broke the intimate and decidedly sexual bubble they’d found themselves in. Well, she was dealing with Wisdom personified. Very carefully, she removed her hand, fingers tingling with the vestiges of heat as she lost contact with the gorgeous skin.

“No. I apologize. I didn’t mean to give out mixed signals.”

“You weren’t. At least I don’t think so. You can’t help being who you are. And everyone wants Love.”

Again, how very Athena-like to hit the bullseye on the very first attempt. Aphrodite’s smile tasted bitter on her own lips.

“Hence this cannot happen.”

“Because you think I’m falling for your godly persona? For Love herself?”